Chapter 16 - The Man Who Finally Stayed
Spring returned to Arizona.
Wildflowers appeared where ash had once covered the ground.
New shelters stood in the settlement.
Children played near the canyon.
The spring remained protected.
Visitors could receive water, but no company could divert or sell it.
Elias's ranch grew.
Three horses became twelve.
Twelve became twenty.
Aayoka reminded him frequently that Amos had started the problem.
Amos denied responsibility.
One afternoon Judge Webb arrived.
He brought a wooden box.
Inside was Elias's old freight badge.
Recovered from company records.
Elias held it.
“I thought this was gone.”
“So did they.”
Webb smiled.
“You want it?”
Elias considered.
Then placed it on a shelf.
“Yes.”
Not because he wanted the old life.
Because he no longer feared remembering it.
That evening Elias walked to the spring.
Aayoka joined him.
“You are quiet.”
“Thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
“Very.”
He turned toward her.
“I want to ask you something.”
Aayoka immediately understood.
For perhaps the first time since meeting her, she looked nervous.
Elias removed a small ring.
Nothing extravagant.
Silver with a turquoise stone.
“I've spent most of my life leaving.”
Aayoka's eyes glistened.
“I know.”
“I don't want to anymore.”
He took her hand.
“Aayoka, will you marry me?”
She remained silent long enough to terrify him.
Then she said, “Your house still leans.”
Elias stared.
“What?”
“The west wall.”
“Aayoka.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
Elias exhaled.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
She kissed him.
The spring flowed beside them.
No whisper.
No command.
May you like
Only water.
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